Galapagos Islands: In Which I Meet the Famous Galapagos Giant Land Tortoise!
June 6, 2016 It’s a hot 11:00 am here in Puerto Ayora. My friend and I have just finished moving into the second of our two Galapagos houses. This one is on the very west side of town, two blocks from the main street. We’ve definitely moved out of tourist-ville and into the heart of “real” Puerto Ayora. Two workers …
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Galapagos Islands: Sharks, Sea Lions, and Las Grietas
June 5, 2016 I wake this morning to an overcast sky and a sense of excitement. After several days of exploring Puerto Ayora, we’re heading out on a bay tour. We’ll finally get out on the water, and we’ll see sea lions and sharks, maybe even a sea turtle or two, and finish at Las Grietas, a stunningly pretty ocean …
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Galapagos Islands: Exploring the Farmer’s Market
June 4, 2016 It’s 7:15 am, a disgustingly early time to be leaving the house. Today is market day, the day when all the local farmers bring their produce into town, and Maureen and I are hoping to find some dinner fixings for substantially less than grocery store prices. The idea of visiting a South American market is exciting. Alison, …
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Galapagos Islands: In Which We Hike to Tortuga Bay (& Visit a Fish Market)
June 3, 2016 I wake up this morning with a great sense of excitement. It’s my first full day of vacation in the Galapagos, and today is all about figuring out which day tours we want to take, finding the fish market, and hiking to Tortuga Bay. Our first stop involves asking Cristina and Monica (our Airbnb hosts) a ton …
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Galapagos Islands: An Afternoon at the Charles Darwin Research Station Beach
June 2, 2016 It’s 3:00 pm in Puerto Ayora. After several hours answering work emails and various other work projects, Maureen and I are now officially on vacation for the next four days. In no time at all, we are on our way to the Charles Darwin Research Station and its beach. Not long after we turn left onto the …
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First Impressions of the Galapagos Islands
June 1, 2016 It’s 7:30 am in Quito, Ecuador. I should be tired with less than 6 hours of sleep, but I’m exhilarated by the day ahead. Today I fly to the Galapagos Islands! Equally exciting, I am meeting up with my friend Maureen, who started her own digital nomad adventure in February. I am very excited to see her again, …
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Making Plans for 2016
January 29, 2016 Five days ago, my friend and I were enjoying our last full day in Belize, biking around Caye Caulker and having one last breakfast at the Caribbean Colors Art Cafe. Today I am bundled up in jeans and a sweatshirt. Underneath the sweatshirt my tan is peeling. I’m not sure if it’s post-birthday fallout (I turned 33 …
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First Trip to Scotland! Day 2: The Battle of Bannockburn
August 14, 2015 It’s just after 8:30 am I step out of the Willy Wallace hostel and set off on foot for the Battle of Bannockburn Visitor’s Centre, which is just over 2 miles away in nearby St. Ninian’s. Stirling is quiet and still this Friday morning. The grey clouds and cool weather are keeping adventuresome tourists indoors, but the …
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Reflections on Chorus
September 20th, 2015 It’s 4:00 pm on a grey Sunday afternoon, and I’ve just curled up on the upstairs sofa to write the second of my Scotland posts. I flick through my pictures and videos, but inspiration doesn’t come. When I glance away from my computer screen, I see a different set of memories: a circle of women in a …
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First Trip to Scotland! Day 1: War Memorials & Stirling Castle
August 13th, 2015 It’s 7:00 am and I’m on a train bound for Preston, where I’ll connect with a second train north to Glasgow, and then a third train north even further to Stirling. It’s quiet on the train – there are maybe half a dozen of us sharing this carriage, and nearly everyone is asleep. It’s a gorgeous morning, …
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